Deformable self-supporting shield



May 19, 1959 A. L. MORNINGSTAR ET AL 2,887,154

DEFORMABLE. SELF-SUPPORTING SHIELD Filed April 2.6, 1952 v INVENTORS:ALFRED L-MORNINGSTAR LFON G. HALLAS B d ATT'YS,

United States Patent DEFORMABLE SELF-SUPPORTING SHIELD Alfred L.Morningstar, Calumet City, Ill., and Leon G. Hallas, Hobart, Ind.

Application April 26, 1952, Serial No. 284,544

1 Claim. (Cl. 160-351) This invention relates to a shielding article andparticularly to a fire-resistant shield which can be deformed into acontoured shape and to a method for making said shield.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shield which can bedeformed about a work-piece to encompass a substantial part thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield which is capableof standing alone.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive,portable, fire-resistant shield.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of making aself-supporting, fire-resistant, deformable shield.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, advantages, andinherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same ismore fully understood from the following description which taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a shield accordingto the invention with a corner pulled apart to show the internalstructure thereof; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 22 of Figure 1.

In the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and according to theinvention there is now provided a portable shield which isself-supporting and flexible and which may be deformed both transverselyand longitudinally into a contoured shape. In the shield two layers offireresistant fabric are joined at the peripheral edges thereof to forman envelope, and a flexible metallic mesh screen is positioned withinthe envelope. The screen is of such construction that it isself-supporting but may be easily deformed into a contoured shape. Theresult is a lightweight, inexpensive shield which can be shaped closelyabout the work-piece so as to encompass a substantial portion thereof.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail it will be observed that theshield 1 in Figure 1 is rectangular in shape and yet may easily bedeformed into a contoured or tubular form as shown. It should beunderstood that the shield 1 may also be deformed along the longitudinaldimensions thereof as well as transversely as illustrated in thedrawing. The shield is assembled by forming an envelope from two piecesof fire-resistant fabric 2 and 3 by joining them at their peripheraledges in a suitable manner, as by the stitching 4. Reinforcing memberssuch as the triangular piece 5 may be located at the corners 2 of theshield 1 if desired and will then be stitched into the envelope formedby the layers 2 and 3. The metallic mesh screen 6 is placed within theenvelope prior to the closing thereof and thereafter provides thesupport for the shield 1. If desired a plurality of grommets 7-7 may beformed in the corners or along the periphery of the shield 1 in order toprovide convenient means for hanging or suspending the shield.

A shield of the type previously described has a large number of uses andin general may be employed wherever it is desired to prevent theflashing of sparks or flame. The shield is particularly suitable for usein welding, grinding, soldering, localized burning and the like. One ofthe chief advantages of the shield resides in its deformability by whichthe shield can be placed close to the source of the spark and tosubstantially encompass it. This feature makes it feasible to use muchsmaller shields than has heretofore been possible in containing thesparks which tend to fly off radially from the source and may endangerthe personnel and property in a wide area. By substantially encompassingthe source with a shield of the type described herein, which can beplaced close to and around the work, it will be apparent that the radialsparking is substantially prevented. This feature also makes it possiblefor several welders to work on the same piece of work withoutendangering one another. The shield is adapted to be self-supporting byvirtue of the metallic wire screen therein. This feature makes theshield readily portable from one job to the other since no furtherstandards or the like are required. At the same time the shield may bebent both longitudinally and transversely to substantially encompass awork-piece.

In making a shield of the type described one places layers of fabric oneither side of the wire mesh material and joins the layers by sewing,stapling or adhesively bonding along the edges thereof. Alternativelyone may form an envelope and leave one side open for insertion of themesh material. After insertion the one side is sealed.

The fabric used in the shield may be any suitable fireresistant clothwhich is either naturally fire-resistant or has been treated to renderit fire-resistant. Inexpensive fabrics such as canvas and duck aresuitable if treated, and are characterized by strength and long life.Other lighter weight fabrics may be used if it is desired to reduce theweight of the finished shield and it is contemplated that the lightweight synthetic fabrics such as nylon and the acrylonitrile polymersmay be employed. One of the outstandingly fireresistant fabrics whichmay be used in the shield if economically feasible is glass fabric. Byfire-resistant as the term is used herein it is intended to mean thatthe material will not support combustion. This does not necessarily meanthat the material will not be destroyed if a flame is applied toit.

The metallic mesh material used herein is preferably a Woven article oflarge mesh wire such as 17 gauge soft wire. Other sizes and types ofmaterial may be used so long as they provide sufficient rigidity to theshield to render it self-supporting but at the same time readilydeformable both longitudinally and transversely.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending applicationSerial No. 166,288, filed June 5, 1950, now abandoned.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous att'endant advantages:will befully understood from the toregoing descriptiomeand it isobvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the several parts Without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages,the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purposeof illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

A self-supporting durable flexible portable welding shield whichcomprises a fire-resistant fabric envelope consisting essentially of twolayers of fire-resistant fabric joined at the peripheral edges thereof,and a flexible metallic mesh screen positioned within said envelope,said shield "being" deformable both transversely and longitudinally intoa contoured shape, said screenconstituting the sole support for saidshield and having suflicient rigidity to support said shield upright onan edge thereof While being transversely and longitudinally deformableinto a desired contour.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS487,470 Cockrill Dec. 6, 1892 1,871,571 Weber Aug. 16, 1932 2,577,667Waite Dec. 4, 1951

